Monday, December 11, 2006

Chelsea draw good for the Red Devils

Any faint hopes Chelsea may have had of another comfortable run to the Premier League title look well and truly scuppered by their 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

By Dec. 12 in 2005, a buoyant Chelsea were 12 points clear at the top after a playing a game more and bookmakers had paid out three months earlier on bets they would retain the club's first title for 50 years.

Today, Jose Mourinho's men are eight points behind leaders Manchester United, albeit with a game in hand, and locked in what promises to be a protracted dogfight with Alex Ferguson's side.

The role reversal, which also raises the stakes for Wednesday's home game with Newcastle United, is all the more of a surprise as Chelsea were typically lavish in their close-season spending.